Flow Errors in Salesforce

Salesforce Flow is a powerful tool that allows you to automate business processes and create custom user interfaces without writing code. However, as with any technology, there is room for errors and faults that can disrupt your flow and frustrate your users. In this blog post, I will explain some common types of flow errors, how to troubleshoot them, and how to create a better user experience when an error occurs.

Common Types of Flow Errors

Flow errors are usually caused by one of the following reasons:

• Invalid data: The flow tries to read, create, update, or delete a record that does not exist, does not match the criteria, or has missing or incorrect values for required fields.
• Governor limits: The flow exceeds the limits imposed by Salesforce on the number of SOQL queries, DML operations, CPU time, or memory usage.
• Logic errors: The flow has a flaw in its design or logic that prevents it from executing correctly or achieving the desired outcome.

Some examples of flow errors and their messages are:

• The flow tried to update these records: none of the records were updated. This error occurs when the flow attempts to update a record that does not satisfy the specified criteria or does not exist.
• Required fields are missing: [Field Name]. This error occurs when the flow tries to create or update a record without providing values for certain mandatory fields.
• Unable to Lock Row. This error occurs when the flow tries to update a record that is being modified by another process or user at the same time.
• Too many SOQL queries: 101. This error occurs when the flow exceeds the limit of 100 SOQL queries per transaction.
• An unhandled fault has occurred in this flow. This error occurs when the flow encounters an unexpected or unknown error that is not handled by a fault connector.

How to Troubleshoot Flow Errors

When a flow error occurs, you can use the following steps to diagnose and fix the problem:

• Check the error message: The error message usually gives you a clue about the cause and location of the error. You can also use the debug log or the flow interview ID to get more details about the error.
• Review the flow design: Check the flow elements, variables, formulas, and conditions to make sure they are correct and consistent. Use the debug mode or the flow builder to test and validate your flow logic and data.
• Use fault connectors: Fault connectors are special connectors that allow you to handle flow errors and direct the flow to a different path when an error occurs. You can use fault connectors to display a custom error message, request corrections from the user, create a case, or bypass the error.
• Use decisions and screens: You can use decision and screen elements to prevent or avoid flow errors by checking certain criteria before proceeding and looping the user back if you need to gather more information or correct the data.
• Use limits and filters: You can use limits and filters to reduce the number of records that the flow processes and avoid hitting governor limits. For example, you can use the limit parameter in the Get Records element to specify the maximum number of records to retrieve, or use the filter conditions to narrow down the records that match your criteria.

How to Create a Better User Experience

When a flow error occurs, you want to provide your users with a clear and concise error message that lets them know what went wrong and what they can do to fix it. You also want to avoid showing them the default error message that is often confusing and technical. Here are some tips on how to create a better user experience when a flow error occurs:

• Use custom screens: You can use custom screens to display your own error message and provide instructions or options to the user. For example, you can use a display text field to show the error message, a text input field to ask the user to enter a valid value, or a radio button group to let the user choose a different action.
• Use variables and formulas: You can use variables and formulas to capture and display the error information in your custom screens. For example, you can use the $Flow.FaultMessage system variable to get the error message, or use a formula to extract the record ID or the field name from the error message.
• Use cases: You can use cases to manage and track flow errors and assign them to your IT department or support team. You can also use the case number to communicate with the user and follow up on the issue. To create a case when a flow error occurs, you can use the Create Records element and populate the case fields with the error information and the user details.

I hope this blog post helps you understand and handle flow errors in Salesforce. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave a comment below. Thank you for reading! 😊